Circuit-closer for trolley signal systems.



R. v. CHEATHAM.

CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR TROLLEY SIGNAL SYSTEMS. APPLICATION man Jun. 1912.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

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ROBERT V. CHEATHAIVI, OF ST. MATTHEWS, KENTUCKY.

CIRCUIT-CLOSER FOIL TROLLEY SIGNAL SYSTEMS.

Application filed June 4, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT V. CHEAT- HAM, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of St. Matthews, county of Jefferson, and Stateof Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Circuit-Closers for Trolley Signal Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this class whichmay be attached to a trolley wire, and which, when in use, will closeand open an electric circuit for a signal or other system when a trolleywheel approaches the device from one direction, but will not close thecircuit when the trolley wheel approaches from the other direction.

This object is accomplished by my invention,.

one embodiment of which is hereinafter more particularly set forth.

For a more particular description of my invention, reference is to behad to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which- Figure1 is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 isa sectional view, taken on the line 1 of Fig. 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4, exceptthat. some parts are shown in difl'erent positions.

Throughout the various views of the drawings, similar referencecharacters designate similar parts.

An ordinary post 1 supports a board 2 in any suitable manner, and thispost is preferably placed between the span .wires 19 and 20 of anordinary trolley wire 16. The board 2 has mounted thereon a suitable pin7 on which is mounted an insulated disk 13 which is pivoted so as tooscillate on said pin 7. The disk 13 has a recess 10 the ends of whichare adapted to engage a pin 11 projecting from the board 2. This disk 13also carries a suitable counterweight 12 which is fixed thereon andadapted to keep one end of the recess 10 in contact with the pin 11. Thedisk 13 also carries an arm 5 fixed thereto by screws 6, or othersuitable means, two screws being shown in the drawing, and this disk 13also carries a second and pivoted arm 3 which is pivotally mounted at 4on this disk, and the disk is provided with a projecting pin 23 whichlimits the movement of the arm 3 in one direction, and in the otherdirection its movement is limited Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26), 1915.

Serial No. 701,677.

screws 6. Both of these arms are electrical conductors, for a below,

The arm 3 is connected to the trolley wire 16, or other suitable sourceof electrical supply, by means of a conductor 21 which has coils orother suitable means so as not to interfere with the movement of the arm3. Another wire or conductor 22 similarly made and disposed is connectedto the arm 5 and runs to a signal or other device which is supplied withelectricity through this apparatus. The conductor or wire 22 also hascoils or other suitable means so as not to interfere with the movementof the arm 5. The'disk 13, which is of insulating material such as woodor fiber-board, is also provided with a pin 8 which projects therefromat some length, and this pin is adapted to be engaged by the upper endof an arm 9 pivotally mounted by a loose pivot on a pin 14: that extendsfrom the board 2. The arm 9 has two parts. disposed and adapted toengage the pinS, as above described, and the lower one is horizontallydisposed, the free end of which runs to an ear 15 fixed on the trolleywire purpose that will appear 16. This ear 15, like the ears 17 and 18,is.

rigidly mounted on the trolley wire 16. The ears 17 and 18 are connectedto the span wires 20 and 19, as shown in the drawing, or in any othersuitable way.

In view of the foregoing, the operation of my improved device will bereadily understood. Assuming that the trolley wheel approaches theapparatus from the'ear 18, the trolley wheel will cause the upper end ofthe arm 9 to swing clockwise and engage the pin The upper one isvertically 8 and force the disk 13 to rotate-so as to Y elevate theweight 12 and cause the arm 3 to be lowered so it is within reach of theupper end of the arm 9 when it reverses its direction of movement as itdoes, as soon as the trolley wheel leaves the car 15. As compared withthe movement of the upper end of the arm 9, the movement'of the disk 13is slow so that the upper end of the arm 9 has time to engage the lowerend of the arm 3 and throw the same so that it momentarily engages thearm 5, which is fixed to the disk and thereby closes the circuit. Thearm 3 is held against the arm 5 until the trolley wheel gets far enoughfrom the car 15 to allow the arm 9 to resume its normal position, ornearly resume its normal position, and as soon as the arm 9 has shiftedsufficiently, the arm 3 falls by gravity against the stop pin 23, thusopening the circuit abruptly and rapidly, and then the counterweight 12acts so as to bring the disk back to "its original position. When thetrolley Wheel approaches from the ear 17 the first movement of the arm9, is anti-clockwise which is in an inoperative direction, so that nomovement of the disk 13 results from this movement of the arm 9, andwhen the arm 9 is swung in the opposite direction that is, clockwise, asit is when the trolley wheel leaves the ear 15 the upper end of the arm9 engages the pin Sand then rotates the disk 13, but when the trolleywheel gets further away the arm 9 returns to its normal position withoutengaging the lower end of the arm 3, so that no circuit is closedbetween the arms?) and 5.

WVhile I haveshown and described one embodiment of my invention, it isobvious that it is not restricted thereto, but is broad enough to coverall structures that come.

within the scope of the'anneXed claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is, V

:1. In a device of the class described, a trolley wire, an ear, an armconnected to this ear and fixed to said trolley wire, means forpivotally mounting the same, an electric circuit and means operatedbysaid arm for "closing and opening said electric circuit.

when a trolley wheel passes in one direction and not closing the saidcircuit when a trolley wheel passes in'the other direction.

' 2. In a device of the class described, a trolley wire, an car, an armconnected to this car secured to said trolley wire, and means forpivotally mounting the same with a loose pivot, an electriccircuit andmeans operated by said arm for closing and opening said 7 electriccirc'uit'when a trolley wheel passes in one direction and not closingthe said circuit when a trolley wheel passes in the other direction.

. I 3. In a device of the class described, a trolley wire, an armconnected to said trolley wire and means for pivotally mounting thesame, an oscillating member mounted on a pivot means on said oscillatingmember for causing same to be oscillated by said arm in one directiononly, an electric circuit and means on said oscillating member operatedby said arm for closing said electric circuit when a trolley wheelpasses in one direction.

I. In a device of the class described, a trolley wire, an arm connectedto said trolley wire and means for pivotally mounting the same, anoscillating member and means for mounting the same so that it canoscillate, a pin on said oscillating member adapted to be engaged bysaid arm, an arm fixed to said oscillating member, an arm pivotallymounted on said oscillating member, and an electric circuit adapted tobe closed by the action of the arm on the pin on said oscillating memberwhen a trolley wheel passes in one direction.

5. In a device of the class described, a trolley wire, an arm connectedto said trolley wire and means for pivotally mounting the same, anoscillating member and means for pivotally mounting the same, acounterweight carried by said oscillating member and means for limitingthe movement of the oscillating member on its pivot, a pin extendingfrom said oscillating member and adapted to be connected by said arm, asecond arm fixed to said oscillating member .and adapted to be connectedto one part of an electric circuit, a third arm pivotally mounted onsaid oscillating member and means for connecting the same to anotherpart of an electric circuit so that the last .mentioned arm may bethrown when the oscillating member is turned in one direction by thefirst mentioned arm to close an electric circuit through the secondmentioned Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G.

